Albert Thomson

Aberdeen born Albert Thomson was brought up in his home town, as a young boy he attended Mile End Primary and Rosemount Secondary
School. After leaving School he joined
Grampian Police in 1969, winning the Baton of Honour at the Scottish Police
College. His passion, devotion to the
force and keen eye were obvious to many at a young age.

In 1982 Albert went on to prove
this merit was justified, being awarded the Degree of Bachelor of Arts in
Sociology and Criminology. This was only
the second in a long list of achievements, awards and recognitions to come.

For his police work in Torry, (Aberdeen) in 1983 he was
awarded the ‘Chief Constables Award’ for community policing initiatives. The same year he was awarded a special “Mention
in Orders” for rescuing a man from Aberdeen Harbour. Showing that there is a real human side to
Albert’s police work.

In 1988 Albert founded ‘The Grampian Police Diced Cap Charitable
Trust’ which raises money for local and national good causes. The trust has so
far donated over £1,100,000 for charities across the UK. Albert is still a fellow of the trust which
is a Registered Scottish Charity unique in the UK and believed
to be unique worldwide, being run voluntarily by Police officers, support staff
from Police Scotland (formerly Grampian Police) along with a number of retired
officers and associates.

”Our aim is to improve the health and well
being of any deserving persons, resident in or connected with the north east of
Scotland.”

During his time in the Force control room Albert was
involved in the response of a number of major incidents in the North Sea
including the Chinook disaster (1986), a fire on oil rig Ocean Odyssey (1988)
and the Cormorant Alpha helicopter disaster (1992).

Albert reached the rank of Inspector and retired from the
force in 1999 but retirement from the Police was not the end of Albert’s story.
Shortly after he served as a director to the Instant Neighbour Charity in
Aberdeen for 2 years before moving on to other work overseas, working as a
consultant on Emergency response and disaster management which took him to
seventeen different countries around the world. He visited places such as
Angola, Azerbaijan, Ghana (working with the Ghana Police, Ghana Military and
the Ghanaian National Disaster Management Organisation -NADMO) Ireland,
Portugal, Russia, the USA, Thailand and Vietnam (The Royal Thai Navy in
Thailand, and The Vietnamese Police Force and Fire Service.) Albert currently works with the Stirling Group.

Above: Albert is presented with the Samurai OSS neck medal during a luncheon of the KHT Knights and the Samurai by Lord Charles Bruce (Shogun)

Albert is a Burgess of Guild of the City & Burgh of
Aberdeen (one of the highest awards Aberdeen Council can bestow on a citizen)
and a Burgess of Trade of the city of Aberdeen and also a member of the
Aberdeen Shoe Maker Incorporation, receiving great local acclaim for two
historical books he wrote relating to the trades in Aberdeen.

Albert’s awards and interests in heraldry, history, peoples, religions and his tireless charity work and compassion for his fellow man continue to inspire those around him. Albert is the Knight Commander of the “Confraternity of the Knights of the most holy trinity”, serving therefore as their Prior. The knights are a confraternity set up in Palermo 1992 with links to the Orthodox church set up to promote charitable works both in Italy and Scotland not for prestige or recognition but with the purpose of helping one’s fellow man.

A
list of more recent activities and recognitions..

A member of the Institute of Civil
Protection & Emergency Management and a Fellow of the Society of
Antiquaries of Scotland.

In 2012 was accepted as an Officer
in the Military & Hospitaller Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem. He was elected as a Trustee for the Dame Bede
Barwiss-Holiday Memorial Trust which was formed to advance the treatment of
diseases and ailments of the eyes or skin.

In 2013 he was as speaker at the conference to mark the 25th anniversary of the Piper Alpha Disaster.

In 2013 the Lord Lyon, King of Arms
in Scotland granted him his Letters Patent showing his armorial bearings.

He is a
member of the Heraldry Society of Scotland.

He is Knight Commander of the
Confraternity of the Knights of the Most Holy Trinity and as such is Prior of
Scotland.

In 2013 was awarded the Cross of
Merit of Saint Nicodemus of Palermo by Archbishop Lorenzo of Palermo and all
Italy.

In April 2015 made an Officer of
Merit in the Military and Hospitaller Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem.

In May 2015 made a knight of the
Portuguese Royal House – Cavaleiro da
Casa Real Portuguesa.

In June 2015 awared the Order of the Samurai.

In August 2015, appointed as Banner
Bearer for the Military and Hospitaller Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem in
Aberdeen.

Albert is a member of the Japan
Society of Scotland.

On 5th September 2015 was made an honorary 1st Dan
AS8831 by the National Karate Federation and was presented with the Scottish Samurai Shogun award.

BELOW: left to right - Lord Charles Bruce, Mike Mitchel, Albert Thomson, Ronnie Watt. Albert is presented with his Scottish Samurai Shogun Award and an honorary 1st Dan Black Belt at a special ceremony on 5th September 2015 at Cults Academy and Sports Centre for his work to the community, charities and chivalry.